Chapter 36

(Seris's POV)

Death.

The aura around this person gave off the feeling of death. I never felt anything like this before in my life, even Agrona himself didn't have such terrifying pressure. But this wasn't all...

Cylrit, my loyal retainer who I was sure of being dead. Is standing right behind him, without any hints of emotions about seeing me. I remember him mentioning something about summoning, is he an asura who could manipulate souls?

But no... He said he was human. Why would he lie in this situation? No, he wouldn't. He is human.

When he asked me for so-called cooperation. I was reluctant, I'm seeing this person only once? How can I trust somebody like him?

When he said it a second time that he would let me live on one condition... If the angel of death itself materialized behind me and held its scythe's sharp edge right at my neck. If I disagreed with him, I would certainly be dead.

And then the most unexpected thing happened, he assigned Cylrit to me. Saying that he will stay in my shadow. I thought he meant this rhetorically, but no...he meant it literally.

Cylrit sank in my shadow as if he wasn't there before. His presence disappeared completely, I tried to sense him... The only thing I could sense was nothing.

'Cadell mentioned that there were countless enemies and that was the reason for retainers' deaths.' I can't see any army.

don't tell me, the army is also like Cylrit...

Hiding in that person's shadow. Just when this idea popped out in my mind as if a deliberately, a person showed me something.

Eyes. Thousands of purple glowing eyes were all staring at me, all of them coming from the direction of the person's shadow. If that person could summon an army and keep them in shadow. Also while increasing the capabilities of soldiers.

'Cylrit became strong. I could sense his mana when he was in my sight, but now that he is hiding I can't. Still, Cylrit also had that same terrifying mana.'

I can confidently say... The person in front of me is stronger than Asuras themselves. I would have never thought that person might be this strong. This shouldn't be possible, by any means.

'Did true god descend upon this world?'

(Ashborn's POV)

Keeping alive Seris can give me time to think. While I don't want to participate in any wars, I also realize it's impossible. My idea of true peace doesn't apply in reality but in dreams.

She can give me detailed information about Alacrya and its progress. Lessening my involvement in everything. Dicathen didn't have chances against Alacrya, I changed it now so Dicathen's chances went up high enough to hold its ground against Alacrya. Knowledge about your enemy can be the biggest advantage in battle while humans are limited against strong enemies such as Scythe's, they now have Seris as support, in critical situations even me.

No matter what Seris will try from now. when she gives me information, she will have only the option of helping Dicathen to win the war. She can be deemed as a traitor right after Agrona learns about it. Scythe or Retainer, you gave information to your enemy who can bring chaos in Alacrya.

But if she won't give me information, she will die either way.

'My liege, you are going to be late. Your brother is already getting up.' Beru informed me.

"I'll finish work here first." I turned to a pile of corpses.

"Arise"

I called out for souls of the dead beasts, which they complied and soon shadows started rising from them.

"Everyone in my shadow." I commanded them and they jumped in my shadow right after hearing my words.

'So that's already... 4 thousand.'

(3'rd POV)

"Wake up!" Elijah was shouting at Arthur.

Arthur meanwhile was still sleeping and wasn't planning on waking up at all. So to protect his sleep, he threw Sylvie at Elijah.

"Sylvie! It hurts!" Elijah howled, Sylvie only calmed down after bruising the boy's face.

"Get up already. Mother asked me to accompany you today, so you don't make a mess on the first day." Ashborn entered the room.

"Mother... I didn't expect that from you..." Arthur mumbled, but got up anyway.

"By the way Ash. Why aren't you going to Xyrus?" Arthur asked while still changing.

"Simply they don't have anything to teach me." Ashborn answered shortly. Boys, especially after seeing him in action couldn't retort him.

"I also don't think they have anything to teach him hehe." Elijah tried to make a joke, but only received silence from the other two. Sylvie even facepalmed.

"Brother, are you awake?" Ellie opened the door as Arthur was changing. While everyone was fully dressed, Arthur had the bottom half-clothed.

"How do you like your brother's awesome muscles?" Arthur flexed his non-existed muscles in different poses.

"Eww! You are only skin and bones. Unlike big brother Ash, you are just a skeleton!" Ellie just shook her head and changed perspective about the same brother she danced with.

"Anyway, Mom told you guys to hurry up and get dressed so we can eat." Ellie left and closed the door.

Arthur wore his Xyrus uniform and Elijah started styling his hair. Ashborn just left the room and went down to the dining hall.

"Hey was he always so antisocial?" Elijah suddenly asked Arthur.

"Ash? No, he doesn't have problems with socializing. He just doesn't have time for I guess." For a period of time, Arthur knew Ashborn he saw how he interacted with Twin Horns and his family.

Even with Virion, Ashborn could interact casually without many problems. Ashborn himself wasn't against being in the company of people either if only the company itself was enjoyable. But in that case, Arthur and Ashborn were pretty much the same, who would like annoying conversations? Ashborn just openly showed that he doesn't like this.

"Damn, both of you and him are handsome but don't use it to your advantage..." Elijah continued grumbling until they came down to the dining room.

"Took you boys long enough to get ready! Who are you guys trying to impress?" Alice asked the boys with giggles and Tabitha hearing this also started giggling.

"Probably Arthur wants to impress his princess hehe..." Ellie teased with an evil smirk.

"Tessia is all over Arthur, already. I'm sure she would already accept him as a boyfriend if not more." Ashborn remarked. Reynolds and Vincent laughed while the woman remembered how Tessia acted near Arthur.

"Heh, lived with Princess for four years. Just what boy did I raise?" Reynolds smiled broadly, but

"What do you mean 'I' I was the one who raised both our sons." Alice scoffed at him, with a slight grin.

"I guess the only times I raised my children were when they got into trouble then?" Reynolds raised brow

"Stop it already." Ashborn intervened stopping the whole childish quarrel.

"What do you think Ash? Who raised you better?" Asked Reynolds with hope in his eyes.

"If it will calm you down the... I haven't learned anything from both of you." Laughter spear across the table, meanwhile Reynolds and Alice slumped down.

"It's time to go already." Ashborn stood up and moved left the dining room just right after when everyone finished their meals.

"Hey wait! It's still early." Shouted Arthur as he also got up and ran after Ashborn.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

The ride to Xyrus academy wasn't long. Ashborn, Arthur, and Elijah on carriage arrived there in a matter of minutes. From the carriage, the trio could already see a lot of people, not only students but even newly established Gendrarmeries at this moment they are just former military personnel who were recruited.

"Council isn't just standing still and not doing anything." Noted Arthur.

"But why guarding school full of mages? There are a lot of teachers at that." Asked Elijah, who visibly didn't understand the situation.

"For you, it's still early to think about this." Responded Ashborn.

"We have arrived, Master Arthur, Master Elijah, Master Ashborn." The driver opened the door for the trio.

They got off the carriage and walked towards the entrance of the academy. Before entering through gates, they were stopped by the same Gendermaries.

"Before entering through gates. Please, state your name and status. This is required by the council and any question on this matter won't be answered." Gendarmerie who just stopped trio announced.

"Student Elijah Knight." Quickly responded Elijah and Gendarmerie looked at his comrade.

"Everything's clear, pass." Second checked some lists and allowed Elijah to pass.

"Student Arthur Leywin." Again the second guard nodded and allowed Arthur to pass.

"Ashborn Leywin." Ashborn also stated his name, but the guard who searched his name on the list shook his head.

"Mr. Ashborn you aren't a student at this academy and we can't let you pass through gates. Even if you are just accompanying your sibling." Guard responded with an apologetic smile.

"*Sigh* With this... Will you allow me to pass?" With a long sigh, Ashborn took out some card from his pockets.

"What is this ki-" Before the guard could ask, another one grabbed his head and forced him to kneel.

"We are very sorry, Mr. Ashborn. We weren't aware of your arrival here, please pass." Guard kneeled and told Ashborn.

Ashborn just went through the gates and approached two boys who were waiting for him. Gendarmeries meanwhile were still dumbfounded, about the S-Class adventurer's appearance.

"Can you believe it, dude? We just saw S-Class adventurer."

"Yeah, who would have thought he was just a teen haha." They awkwardly laughed and continued doing their job.

"What took you so long?" Arthur asked approaching Ashborn.

"I had to show them my guild card." Answered Ashborn and Arthur chuckled, understanding his situation.

Trio then went through another entrance of the school building this time. After Elijah and Arthur got checked by some woman if they were really students, they entered a big auditorium with a crowd of new students sitting everywhere.

"Let's find a seat!" Arthur had to shout because of all the noise in the auditorium.

"There are some free seats." Ashborn pointed at few seats in the last row so the group walked towards it.

On the way towards the seat, Ashborn had to stomp on the feet of few rude students who deliberately put them forward making all of them almost roll on the floor from pain. They approached their seats. Arthur and Elijah managed to take seat, while Ashborn's seat was taken right before he was about to sit there.

"This is my seat, go find another." Ashborn told some guy, but he just grinned.

"Oh, I already took it~ What are you going to do?" Ashborn didn't waste time and with a two-finger-picked guy by his long nose and threw at the front row.

"Did you have to do this?" Arthur asked, barely holding laughter.

"This way it's more humiliating for him." Couldn't be said that Ashborn cared about such people, but humiliating them was the best way to make them not bother you again.

Of course, there were special cases where some snorty noble won't stop bothering you. In those cases, there were more SPECIAL ways of dealing with them.

Then group felt some mana spreading across the auditorium. It was Directress Goodsky who encompassed the whole room.

"I welcome everyone here, the future leaders, scholars, and powerhouses of Dicathen, to this humble academy. I am Cynthia Goodsky. Please call me Director Goodsky..."

__________________________________________________

Another chappie! Well, this chapter isn't that interesting I agree. But that couldn't be said about the next one! A lot of things will be different and the Disciplinary committee this time will be something requested by the council itself so... No spoilers.

Anyway

Discord: https://discord.gg/tQk4cBspt7

Second FF: https://www.wattpad.com/story/284711075-tbate-severing-fate

Cyaa